All employers maintaining the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's 300 Logs for workplace injuries and illnesses pursuant to OSHA's recordkeeping standard must post their 2011 annual summary by February 1, 2012. Employers must utilize the annual summary form (form 300A) when complying with the posting requirements. The form is available for downloading from the OSHA website.

Here are some details about the form that are frequently misunderstood or overlooked and which can cause trouble.

Executive Certification

OSHA's recordkeeping standard requires a certification of the 300A logs by a company executive. OSHA has identified four specific management officials who it considers to be a "company executive" for purposes of certifying the 300A Logs. These individuals are 1) an owner of the company, 2) an officer of the corporation, 3) the highest ranking company official working at the establishment, or 4) the immediate supervisor of the highest ranking company official working at the establishment.